RP
100
Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The prodigious 2007 Harlan Estate reminds me of a hypothetical blend of the 2002 with a touch of the controversial 1997. Dense plum/purple-colored with sweet aromas of barbecue smoke, blueberries, blackberries, cassis, licorice, hot rocks and subtle oak, it is a splendidly opulent, pure wine with a skyscraper-like texture as well as stunningly deep fruit that expands gracefully across the palate. The finish lasts nearly a full minute. Because of its overwhelming richness and sweet tannins, this brilliant wine seems to be approachable now, but I suspect further nuances and complexity will emerge after 4-5 years in the bottle. This wine will still be going strong at age 25-30. Like the offerings from its sister estate, Bond, these Harlan Estate offerings are uncompromisingly brilliant examples of Napa viticulture and winemaking at its finest. Kudos to proprietor Bill Harlan.
Run by Bill Harlan, Harlan Estate’s debut vintage was 1990. The second wine culled out from this extraordinary estate’s barrels is called The Maiden, with a production generally under 2,000 cases,. Yet it often represents 50% of the estate’s production given the Draconian selection process employed at Harlan.
Reviewed by Robert M. Parker, Jr., December 2010. Drinking window: 2012-2040.
V
98
Vinous
The 2007 Harlan Estate is fabulous. Explosive and dense, with tremendous
persistence, the 2007 has all of the opulence and raciness that makes the
wines from this vintage so distinctive. Scents of tobacco, leather and mocha
develop in the glass, but above all else, the 2007 is a wine of sumptuous
richness. It will continue to deliver considerable pleasure over the next two
decades or so. What a wine! Empting describes 2007 as a warm, but not
excessively hot, year with a long growing season. The wines presented
naturally high dry extracts. Because of that, Levy and Empting opted for
macerations that were a bit longer than usual. Reviewed by Antonio Galloni, January 2017. Drinking window: 2017-2032.